So far, Virgin Hyperloop One has announced partnership with the governments of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, and plans to expand to other regions in India.

BENGALURU: Virgin Hyperloop One, a startup which makes high-speed pod-based transportation systems is partnering with the government of Karnataka to conduct a preliminary study to understand hyperloop’s feasibility and economic impact in the region.

The California-based company signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka Urban Development Department (KUDD) aimed at identifying potential routes to improve mobility in the Bengaluru metropolitan area and connect high-growth cities such as Tumakuru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Hosur within the state.

So far, Virgin Hyperloop One has announced partnership with the governments of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, and plans to expand to other regions in India.

"Bengaluru has been the IT hub of the country and all major giants have been functioning out of the region. The introduction of a technology like hyperloop will further add to the pace at which the state wants to grow," said Karnataka IT & BT minister Priyank Kharge. "We are happy to partner with Virgin Hyperloop One for its preliminary study in our region and we hope to bring out some concrete solutions for the state swiftly."

Hyperloop is a pod-based terrestrial transportation system which can carry passengers or freight through anear-vacuum tube at airline speeds. Though the 'hyperloop' concept is the brainchild of tech billionaire Elon Musk, there are many other startups developing pod-based transport through near-vaccum tubes.

Virgin Hyperloop One, which is backed by Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin Group claims it has built and tested a full-scale hyperloop system at its test track in the Nevada desert. In addition to India, the company is working on projects in countries including the UAE, the US, Canada, Finland and the Netherlands.

"We recognise the vital role of technology in larger initiatives like that of Digital India, and we strongly believe that Virgin Hyperloop One can be a strong addition to this initiative," said Nick Earle, SVP global field operations, Virgin Hyperloop One. "India is one of the most important geographies for developing hyperloop networks and reimagining the complete transportation system. With this preliminary study, we are excited to initiate the build-up of a strong foothold that we foresee in future throughout the state".

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